8 Excessive Sweating Causes

Excessive perspiration or sweating has always been a problem for many adults. It causes social awkwardness and decreases the quality of life. Many factors have been known and found to contribute to excessive sweating, most of which are related to each other. Some of the excessive sweating causes cannot be controlled, making it difficult for doctors to combat the effects of this condition.

What are the main excessive sweating causes?

1. Genetics

It has been found out that some cases of excessive sweating are actually caused by genes. Some people are more prone to excessive perspiration compared to others, ever since they were born. In a lot of cases, their parents also would have gone through the same episode of excessive sweating.

2. Hormonal Changes

When a person goes through puberty or menopause, the hormonal balance in their body changes a lot. This can frequently be one of the excessive sweating causes, as the physiological state of the body has changed. To deal with this imbalance and changes, the body will release chemicals that cause the skin blood vessels to dilate so the heat can be released, hence produces a lot of sweat. During menstruation, women also frequently suffer from night sweat. This night sweat is also called “nocturnal hyperhydrosis”, a well-known perspiration condition that happens during sleep.

3. Breakdown of with Nervous System

There are many ways the breakdown of our nervous system can cause excessive sweating. Our nervous system is well connected to all our sweat glands throughout the body and the system is constantly active to maintain homeostasis. When there is a fault, wrong signals are sent to our sweat glands, which are then activated to produce a lot sweat, even if its not needed. Faulty nervous system such as an overactive thyroid, can also increase heart rate, which in turn increases sweating and hyperhidrosis.

Download our Natural Treatment Guide for excessive sweating (PDF).

4. Emotions

When a person is emotionally charged, either anxious, depressed or scared, the body will respond by perspiring. This is one of the main excessive sweating causes. Emotions can often cause profuse sweating because they activate the same part of the nervous system as heat and exercise do. Emotions are closely regulated and controlled by the hypothalamus part of our brain. Hypothalamus also happens to be involved in controlling our body temperature by regulating the production of sweat. Furthermore, the sweat glands on the palms and soles are known to be activated mainly by emotional stimulation. Blushing is another another main cause of sweating. This is especially true for those who are particularly shy or have stage fright. For many people with stage fright, it is always accompanied by excessive sweating.

5. Obesity

Those are who are obese tend to sweat more than those with normal weight. With layers of fat coating the blood vessels, the body has to work extra harder, just to excrete the unwanted minerals from the body. Obesity is one of the main excessive sweating causes.

6. Food or Medicine

Eating certain kind of food will undoubtedly makes you sweat a lot. The obvious ones will be curry, chilli, or any spicy food. Spicy food often makes the sweat glands go overdrive. It is common to be sweating profusely on your forehead when eating spicy food. The temperature of the food also affects the level of perspiration. Drinking a hot soup will definitely causes sweating. Some medicine also have been known to cause sweating.

7. Climate

The weather conditions and the surrounding temperature will often causes excessive sweating. Not to mention, humidity level. In a tropical country like Singapore, where humidity level is about 99%-100% and average temperature is at 30 Celcius, it is very common to sweat when one is wearing a long sleeve. Few minutes standing directly under the hot sun will undoubtedly causes more excessive sweating.

8. Exercises and Activities

Physical activities will cause excessive sweating of body. To control the temperature of our body, our body produces sweat to cool down the body when we exercise. The harder and longer the exercise, the more sweat will be excreted. For many people, physical activity is the one of the main excessive sweating causes, as they walk or move around from places to places.

What causes you to sweat? Share your experience with us in the comments section.